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Faruk Koca

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Faruk Koca
Faruk Koca, 2023
President of MKE Ankaragücü
In office
10 June 2021 – 12 December 2023
Preceded byFatih Mert
Succeeded byİsmail Mert Fırat
Member of the Grand National Assembly
In office
14 November 2002 – 23 April 2011
ConstituencyAnkara (I) (2002, 2007)
Personal details
Born (1964-04-15) 15 April 1964 (age 60)
Derekışla, Ankara, Turkey
Political partyJustice and Development Party (2001–2023)
Children4
Residence(s)Ankara, Turkey

Faruk Koca (born 15 April 1964 in Ankara) is a Turkish politician, entrepreneur and sports official. He served as the president of MKE Ankaragücü between 2021 and 2023.

Koca is a founding member of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) and served from October 2002 to June 2011 during the 22nd Parliament of Turkey and 23rd Parliament of Turkey as a member of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey.[1][2]

Referee attack

[edit]
Main article: Halil Umut Meler

On 11 December 2023, after Ankaragücü's match against Çaykur Rizespor, Koca physically assaulted referee Halil Umut Meler together with others and knocked him to the ground with a punch.[3] According to statements from Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç and Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, Koca and two other attackers were arrested.[4][5]

In his statement to investigators, Koca said the incident was sparked by the referee’s "wrong decisions" and "provocative behaviour". In addition, Koca stated that he approached the referee with the intention of "spitting in his face" rather than attacking him.[6] Koca also said: "The slap I threw will not cause fractures. After the slap I gave, the referee stood for about 5–10 seconds and then threw himself on the ground. They immediately removed me from the scene because I had heart disease. I am not aware of any events that took place other than this. That's all I have to say"; Meler, meanwhile, said he fell to the ground after Koca hit him under his left eye and threatened to kill him.[6] Koca allegedly told Meler and his assistants: "I will finish you. I will kill you."[6][7] Following the attack, former Ankaragücü coach Hikmet Karaman claimed he had also been assaulted by Koca.[8][9]

A day after the incident, Koca apologized to Meler and his family in a press statement in which he also announced his resignation as the Ankaragücü club president.[10][11][12]

On 14 December 2023, the TFF announced that Koca had been banned permanently for punching Meler. Ankaragücü were fined two million lira (£54,000) and ordered to play five home games without any fans.[13]

On 27 December 2023, Koca was released on bail following his lawyer's objection being accepted. Koca stood trial on 9 January 2024 on charges of injuring a public official, threatening an official and violating a law relating to the prevention of violence in sports.[14][15] On 11 November, Koca was convicted and sentenced to 3.5 years' imprisonment for assaulting Meler.[16]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "TBMM Albümü". tbmm.gov.tr. 31 October 2012.
  2. ^ "Bilgilendirme".
  3. ^ "Son dakika: Ankaragücü Başkanı Faruk Koca'dan Hakem Halil Umut Meler'e yumruklu saldırı!". Hürriyet. 12 December 2023.
  4. ^ "Ali Yerlikaya: Faruk Koca tedavisinin ardından gözaltına alınacak". Gazete Duvar. 11 December 2023.
  5. ^ Nach Angriff auf Schiedsrichter: "Beschämender Schlag für türkischen Fußball", Kicker. 11 December 2023.
  6. ^ a b c "Old friend of Erdogan falls from grace after punching referee at Turkish match". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  7. ^ "Saldırıya uğrayan Halil Umut Meler'in ilk ifadesi: "Seni öldüreceğim dedi"". NTV Spor (in Turkish). Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  8. ^ "Hikmet Karaman: "Faruk Koca bana da yumruk attı" Şok itiraf!". Ajansspor (in Turkish). Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  9. ^ "Hikmet Karaman: Faruk Koca bana da yumrukla saldırdı". NTV (in Turkish). Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  10. ^ "Faruk Koca, Ankaragücü başkanlığından istifa etti - Sözcü Gazetesi". Sözcü (in Turkish). 12 December 2023. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  11. ^ "Basın Açıklaması". MKE Ankaragücü (in Turkish). 12 December 2023. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  12. ^ "Süper Lig: Nach Angriff auf Schiri – Türkischer Club-Chef tritt zurück". Die Zeit. 12 December 2023.
  13. ^ "Ankaragucu president Faruk Koca given permanent ban for punching referee, says Turkish FA". BBC Sport. 14 December 2023. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  14. ^ "Former Turkish club president released on bail after punching referee at top league game". AP News. 27 December 2023. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  15. ^ "Former football club president released from prison after attacking referee". Hürriyet Daily News. 28 December 2023. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  16. ^ "Former Turkish soccer club president sentenced to prison for attacking referee". Associated Press. 11 November 2024. Retrieved 11 November 2024.



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